What would you do?

This happened to a friend of mine and I want to see how others would react.

You're driving at night on a hwy close to neighborhoods. A dog runs into the road and you hit him immediately. It doesn't kill the dog. It broke a leg and shattered the pelvis. You notice the dog has tags and call the owner. They ask you to meet them at the 24HR ER Vet down the street. You say yes and you put the dog in the car and go. (You are missing work for this) You meet them, apologize, and leave and go home, no longer feel like working, too upset. They said the dog ran out the front door and into the hwy before they could catch it.

The next day they call and threaten to sue and constantly harass you because they want you to pay the vet bill which they say is 4k. You cannot pay anything as you have children and it's Christmas time.

What would you do?

I say no, the pet owner should pay.

<blockquote><b>Quoting ♥ boop:</b>" What would you do? This happened to a friend of mine and I want to see how others would react. You're ... [snip!] ... the vet bill which they say is 4k. You cannot pay anything as you have children and it's Christmas time. What would you do?"</blockquote>




What are the leash laws there?

Quoting ~~My Pet Wussy~~:" <blockquote><b>Quoting ♥ boop:</b>" What would you do? This happened to a friend ... [snip!] ... as you have children and it's Christmas time. What would you do?"</blockquote> What are the leash laws there?"

must be on leash

Uhhhh... the responsibility falls COMPLETELY on the owner. It's their dog, they are responsible for it's health and well being.

<blockquote><b>Quoting ♥ boop:</b>" must be on leash"</blockquote>




Then I don't think it's the drivers fault. They shouldn't have to pay.

Here, your animals need to be leashed at all times while outside. So it would be the owners responsibility. If it were me I would try an help pay for it, as I am a dog lover. But it's the law here, so the driver would not be penalized for it, especially since there was nothing she could have done.

Further more, the owners should COUNT THEIR BLESSINGS, that the person was kind enough to bring the dog to the vet, instead on leaving the poor dog on the side of the road, like so many other smurfs!

The dog should have been on a leash or in a fence. Not the driver's fault.

Personally, I would offer to pay a portion directly to the vet's office. But, I wouldnt pay all.

They are responsible for keeping their dog safe. If the dog got hit by a car in the road, they weren't being responsible pet owners.

I would tell them to stop calling me and let them know if they didn't stop I would report them for harassment.

Honestly, it shouldn't be the drivers fault. They should have done more to keep the dog on a leash or inside if it wasn't trained not to run away. It wasn't like the driver saw the dog and hit it anyway.

I say that when you own a pet you are also taking on the responsibility to pay for any medical needs that pet may have. As a pet owner who has had someone run over my dog in our driveway (they where turning around) and leave with out even telling us or apologizing I would just be happy the person who hit my dog had the curtesy to call and tell me...

the owner is responsible.

tell them I'll see you in court. And wait to hear. There is no way the driver would be liable for anything.

I would personally offer to pay for it. If they asked me to pay for it I would but if they called and threatened to sue me I would tell them to kiss my ass.